Mad Caddies

Chances are you missed Mad Caddies Day on November 1 — although, unlike "National Talk Like a Pirate Day," this day isn't officially sanctioned by anyone other than the third-wave ska-punk band itself. But if the California sextet can keep up its high-octane act for ten years, fans can surely dust off their suits and two-tone sneakers for a belated celebration. The Caddies don't shine by doing traditional ska well; after all, even their youthful energy wouldn't have carried them past the genre's late-'90s decline. Instead, they juice up their repertoire with punk-infused reggae beats, muted jazz trumpets and occasional shots of swing or rockabilly. In other words, thanks to eclectic mix of styles, the Caddies have room to skank on, rather than limp into the sunset like so many of their peers.